On Thursday 10th March 2016 Shane Martin was arrested under section 501 of the Migration Act for failure of the Good Character Test. He is currently in a prison awaiting his fate of either having his visa reinstated or being removed or deported to New Zealand. Shane has no criminal convictions whatsoever, his entire family are Australian citizens, Shane runs his own business and lives in Sydney, NSW. He is one of several Maori men who have been detained in prison for failure of the good character test. Shane also featured in Ross Kemp's documentary Extreme World - Australian Bikers.

AUSTRALIA’s government has declared it is “at war’’ with outlaw motorcycle gangs, ordering 81 foreign-born bikies and cronies out of the country.

The Herald Sun revealed yesterday that Tigers star Dustin Martin’s father had been locked up and ordered to return to New Zealand over his links to the Rebels bikie group.

Immigration minister Peter Dutton confirmed he had decided to revoke Shane Martin’s visa on the basis of advice, but would give no further details.

The minister’s powers to expel those who fail a character test was strengthened by legal changes in December 2014.

Mr Dutton said he had since revoked or refused to renew the residency visas of 81 members, or associates, of outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Of these, 31 were in prison, 23 more were in immigration detention pending their removal, and another 27 had either been deported or were already overseas when their visas were revoked.

March 11th, 6:22 pm

Father of AFL footballer Dustin Martin is facing deportation, as the government cracks down on outlaw motorcycle gangs Richmond has vowed to support the star midfielder, as he deals with his dad's detention.

The father of Richmond Tigers player Dustin Martin is facing deportation to New Zealand after Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said he failed to meet the minimum character requirements to remain in Australia.

Shane Martin, alleged to be a top-ranking official with Rebels Motorcycle Gang, was detained in Sydney on Thursday and his visa was cancelled.

Mr Dutton confirmed the news while announcing the Government had cancelled or refused the visas of 81 bikie gang members or associates.

He refused further comment on the Martin case.

"I can confirm that I took a decision based on the advice available to me to cancel the visa of Mr Shane Martin," he said.

"We are determined to... target people who have been involved particularly at higher levels of outlaw motorcycle gangs.

"We are at war with outlaw motorcycle gangs because they are distributing drugs across society and they're involved in serious crime.

"Outlaw motorcycle gangs should hear the message clearly that we're going to continue this operation until we can wipe out outlaw motorcycle gangs."

The minister said 81 bikie gang members or associates have had their visas cancelled or refused since mid 2014.

Of those, 27 are offshore, 31 are in prison or on remand and 23 are in detention awaiting removal.

The Richmond Football Club's general manager of football, Dan Richardson, said Dustin Martin had spoken to the club about the situation on Thursday, but had little information about it as it was a police matter.

"I'm not in a position to make any comment on that other than we'll support Dustin, as we would all our players," he said.

"It'll be tough on him. He seems to be fine, albeit understanding it is his dad, but as I said we'll support [him] and hopefully he'll be OK."

Anger over Kiwi facing deportation from Australia

Australian border officials and police have detained an alleged bikie chief and ordered that he be deported to New Zealand on grounds of his poor character.

Kiwi Shane Martin - the father of an Aussie Rules star - is one of many bikies from New Zealand who've had their visas cancelled in the past two years.

But government officials aren't impressed.

Martin has always loved supporting his son, especially when he was drafted to the AFL in 2009.

But he couldn't be there for Dustin's game last week; he'd just been locked up and told he faced deportation.

His son's anger was evident on the field.

After the match Dustin posted a photo of his dad on social media, and his teammates had nothing to say to media.

Martin was arrested in Sydney. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton now wants sent back to New Zealand.

"I took a decision based on the advice available to me to cancel the visa of Mr Shane Martin," he says.

He's allegedly a Rebels bikie chief. The arrest is part of an Australian government crackdown.

"We are going to continue this operation until we can wipe out outlaw motorcycle gangs, because they are the biggest distributors of amphetamines and illicit drugs in this country," Mr Dutton says.

Since mid-2014 the visas of dozens of outlaw motorcycle gang members in Australia have been cancelled or refused. Most of them are from New Zealand.

United Future leader Peter Dunne says testing people on their character is a step too far and he doesn't believe New Zealand government officials are being kept in the loop.

"I just think this is a very bad look for Australia. I think it's got a potential to escalate a tension between New Zealand and Australia that doesn't need to exist, and I think the Australians just need to start talking to us more closely about what they are planning to do -- or just be a bit more careful about how they apply their own law. "

Martin holds the right to appeal to the federal court against any visa cancellation.

'I can confirm there was an operation in Sydney today related to the cancellation of a visa. The government takes its responsibility to protect the (public) seriously,' A spokesperson for Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said.

Police have detained the father of Richmond AFL star Dustin Martin (pictured) over links to outlaw motorcycle gang, the Rebels

Shane Martin (pictured left) was locked up in Sydney on Thursday after his residency visa was cancelled and he reportedly faces deportation to New Zealand

Mr Dutton has been granted the ability to revoke or renew visas on character grounds, effective of December 2014.

It is believed Mr Martin's Visa failed to meet minimum character requirements and it is alleged he is an eminent figure in the gang.

Mr Dutton told 2GB on Thursday the government has 'good grounds' to cancel bikies' visas and many of these matters have been resolved in the High Court.

'We’re trying, together, to identify the top targets, and people who are causing most grief in our community,' he said.

Mr Martin - who has a matching 'Live Free. Die Free' tattoo with his son - stood by Dustin when he found himself suspended from the AFL and fined $2000 for making a 'handcuff' sign during a match.

In December, he was fined a further $5000 after threatening to stab a woman in the face with chopsticks and slamming his hand into the wall above her head at a Melbourne restaurant.

Martin, who was dragged out of the venue by the manager of Mr Miyagi, was forced to apologise for the incident.

The New Zealand-born father of an Aussie rules football star is being booted out of Australia over his links to the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang.

Shane Martin, father of AFL Richmond Tiger's player Dustin Martin, has been detained and is awaiting deportation after the Australian Government launched a fresh crackdown on bikie gangs.

Last week Australia's Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton put all foreign-born members or associates of motorcycle gangs on notice warning they could face removal under the country's beef-up visa cancellation laws.

Already 81 bikie gang members and associates have had visas cancelled or refused under Section 501 of the Migration Act.

Today Canterbury University sociologist Jarrod Gilbert confirmed one of those detained by authorities in the latest sweep included Shane Martin.

He had spoken earlier to his Australian-based brother to confirm the deportation.

Mr Gilbert tweeted: "I know Shane Martin well. He was in a documentary I worked on in Aus. I feel sick for him now."

Under Australian law Mr Martin, who is alleged to be a top-ranking official with Rebels Motorcycle Gang, has failed to meet the minimum character requirements to remain in his adopted country.

Mr Gilbert was concerned ex-pat Kiwi's decision to criticise the Australian Government over its tough visa measures in a Ross Kemp: Extreme World documentary which was aired in the United Kingdom had cost his freedom.

"I've worked very, very closely with him and I'd be deeply concerned if him appearing in that documentary and speaking out against the laws in any way contributed to him finding himself in this predicament.

"Obviously it's pretty troubling consequences for free speech.

"He trusted me to work on that film and I'd feel a bit sick if that contributed to the problems he's faced," he said.

He did not know when Mr Martin was due to arrive back in New Zealand.

According to Australian media Mr Martin was taken in to custody at his trucking business in Camden, in southwest Sydney, on Thursday morning.

Despite his father's unexpected detention son Dustin took to the field for his football club that same night.

It was not known if Mr Martin would appeal his deportation.

Mr Dutton said the Australian Government was committed to targeting and disrupting the operations of outlaw motorcycle gangs by removing key figures from gangs.

We are here first and foremost to advocate for our children and their future. Australian and New Zealand families are being disadvantaged and penalised due to the current legislations. The system that is in place is not working and sadly many of the repercussions and consequences are being placed upon our children and our grandchildren. We stand united together in true ANZAC spirit fighting to change a system denying dignity and inclusion because we migrate from Aotearoa/New Zealand.